Varenna, Lago di Como: A travel photo guide.

It is no secret, and I don’t even try to hide my partiality: Italy is my favorite country in the world. I have lived there for a couple of months, have traveled there a dozen times, and I just can’t get tired of it. With so many beautiful places to explore, I have to admit that this is, in my opinion, the most visually beautiful post I`ve written so far, and about a city that is usually underrated whenever I see someone talking about Lago di Como. I`m talking about the stunning Varenna.

Being a full-time photographer I have to say that I’m lucky enough to have traveled to some impressive places and taken more than a few stunning photos, many of which are published right here, in this blog. But there`s something about Varenna that just took my breath away.

It was a beautiful autumn day when I visited Varenna and the sun was shining peacefully on the water of the Lago di Como. As we approached the town, the view from the lake with all the colorful houses was like a painting!

Varenna is a small town on the shores of Lake Como, in the North of Italy. I have to say that this is a privileged area, everywhere you go, there`s an inspiring photo, but some cities get more attention than other, like Bellagio, the most visited city there and where I was staying.

Bellagio is a common choice because of its pier where boats get out every hour to cruise the lakes, a biggest hotel offer and many stores and restaurants that will make every tourist busy. Don’t settle for that, though. There`s more to explore in Lake Como, and Varenna was my favorite choice by far!

We took a boat from the pier of Bellagio to Varenna, and it was a short stop, in my opinion, I really wish I could have stayed a little longer. Luckily it was enough time for me to adventure myself through the gardens of Villa Cipressi, a very romantic venue that is usually the stage for dreamy weddings by the lake (write that down if you have marriage plans!).

Originally built as part of a private residential complex that dates from the 1400’s, these stunning gardens were opened to the public only after 1980, when the luxury hotel group R Collection Hotels bought the place and decided to restore the place, making it opened to visitors (lucky us!)

Like many classic gardens, the gardens at Villa Cipressi are decorated with columns and statues that create some perfect photo opportunities. My Instagram feed got really happy!

Your photos are stunning! And I totally agree with you on those doorknobs being awesome. I only saw Lake Como from the highway in the hills above it, but even from there it seemed like a pretty special area. I’d love to go back and really explore.

So beautiful! I am traveling to Italy this summer and Lago di Como is one of my bucket list places to visit! I also love finding smaller, less touristy-towns to explore, so thank you for sharing the stunning Varenna!

No wonder it’s your favourite place in the world, it’s so gorgeous! I visited Stresa about 8 years ago now and your photos of Varenna took me right back there. Without photos, you’d have no hope of describing how beautiful the Lakes district really is. Beautiful shots!

There is no doubt about the beauty of Varenna. I have not been to Italy in a long time. I think it is time to go back. I would like to visit this lake (and others) because it seems like the places to see and things to do are a mix of beautiful towns and stunning vistas. I cannot resist that!

Beautiful! Your photos have definitely captured Varenna in its finest! The gardens are lovely and I’m pretty sure a walk here is romantic and very relaxing. I’d agree with the doorknobs too. Such unique pieces! I’m sure my husband (who loves taking photos and videos) will have a day taking photos of everything!

I have yet to visit Italy – with so many cities, I tend ti get overwhelmed when it comes to planning. Then it seems after I’ve finalized, I come across new areas that I’d like to visit. Lago di Como seems like it won’t be an exception; I love the rustic appearance and it seems a lot less crowded than other regions. Beautiful photos!